Mark Andrew Hailey was born on
August 30, 1958 in Springfield, Missouri and passed away on April 14,
2025 at his home in Hoopa surrounded by his wife, children and
grandchildren. He was a very proud Hoopa Tribal Member and was also
of Yurok and Karuk descent. The things that mattered most to Mark
were his wife Dana, his children and family, music and the Dallas
Cowboys. As a boy, his family moved around a lot and he was so happy
he ended up in Tulsa, Oklahoma because he met the love of his life
Dana there. They had three children together - Jordan, Jenna and Joey
- and he was an amazing son, father, husband, brother, uncle and
papa.
He showed an aptitude for music from a very young age and was a beautiful singer and bass player. He first started playing music and singing with his brothers as children and spent most of his life in bands, touring and bringing joy through music at state fairs, weddings, rodeos, events and numerous private parties. Music was such a part of his daily life - even when he became physically unable to perform on stage, he still loved to sing and play his guitar at home. His kids always loved to hear stories about the many concerts he attended or played over the years.
Shortly before getting married to his wife Dana, he moved home to Hoopa and became an EMT. He and his partners Dave Short and Leona “Chicken” Jackson ne’en worked hard to document the many accidents they responded to and were instrumental in getting the first guardrails up along the highways in our area and saving a lot of lives. There are generations alive today in our valley due to their hard work and heroic saves. He also spent seven years at Tulsa Life Flight as Communications Supervisor and loved flying in helicopters. He had a passion for helping people and saving lives wherever he could.
Mark was such a funny and loving man and constantly had his family and friends laughing at some funny joke or silly face he would make. He was a lover of animals and particularly loved his big dumb, sweet dog “Forky.” He was so proud and would boast to everyone he met that he and his wife Dana were married for 45 years and together for 49 years. He was also extremely proud of his three children and what good people they grew up to be.
He is survived by his beloved wife Dana Hailey, his sons Jordan and Joseph (Mercedes) Hailey and his daughter Jenna Hailey, his mother Darlene Marshall, his sister Judith Surber and brother Weldon Hailey (Lori), his stepmother Bonnie Hailey, his sister-in-laws Cathy Spears and Lynn Vockrodt (Brent), his brother-in-laws David Egan (Kathy) and Bill Armiger, his daughter-in-law Angela Jarnaghan, his beloved grandchildren Libby, Damon, Michael, Aurorah, Vivian and Audrinah Hailey and bonus grandson Jesus Jones (and his 9.5 toes - sorry buddy!), his nephews Paul Hailey (Yara), Gordon “Sport” Surber (Raven), Roger Surber (Ethel), Cory Surber, his nieces Kiersten McAvoy (Chad), Carrie Mello (Tim), Jenifer Hailey (Johnny), Shelly Bommelynn (Allen), Megan Surber (Stoney), Anna Hailey, his Oklahoma nephews Jason Vockrodt (Silina), Blake Vockrodt (Jamie), A.J. Spears (Jackie), his Oklahoma nieces Andrea Spears, Ashley Spears (Steve), Kristin Egan, Jacque Hoover (Brendan), Kasey Egan, Kayte Egan, many great-nieces and great-nephews who he loved, close cousin and best friend Leslie “Sim” Risling (Debbie) and beloved family friend Melissa “Lovey” Sanchez.
He is preceded in death by his father Charles Hailey Sr., in-laws Mike Egan, MaryAnn Travers and Bob Travers, his brothers Charles David Hailey Jr. and Kelly Hailey, his baby sister Julie Hailey, his grandson Mark Andrew Hailey II, his brothers-in-law Gordon Surber and Drew Spears, his sister-in-law Denise Armiger, his favorite auntie/bonus grandmother Vivien Hailstone, his maternal grandparents Rosalind Risling Marshall and Ernest Marshall Sr., his paternal grandparents Paul and Opal Hailey, his niece Brianna Hailey, and his very close cousins Damon Hailstone, Richie Marshall, Mike Kelsey Sr. and Dave Dayringer.
Pallbearers: Paul Hailey, Sport Surber, Roger Surber, Cory Surber, Leslie Risling III, Douglas Kyle Risling, Baron Risling III, Sonny Mitchell, Allen Bommelyn
Honorary Pallbearers: Damon Hailey, Michael Hailey, Weldon Hailey, David Egan, Brent Vockrodt, Bill Armiger, David Henderson, Leslie “Sim” Risling II, Ryan Risling, Gary Risling, Baron Risling II, Clifford Marshall, Adam Allen, Lawrence Tracy, Joe Hutt, Wes Hutt, Bobby Roberts, Anthony “Tony” Risling II, Daniel Lopez, Marshall Maloney, George McCovey, Randy Dodge, Darren Marshall Sr., Stoney McCoy, Artie Jones, Terrance Moon, Matthew Lewis, James McCovey, Dale Risling, Edward John Mitchell, Wally Obie, Harry “O” Campbell, Rod Johnson, James Davis, Stephen Dayringer, Lonnie Risling Sr., Ronnie Risling, Russell Marshall Sr., Russell Marshall Jr., Stanley “Jumper” Ferris, Duffy Mott, Mike McBride, Bud Hardy, Gordon Scott Metcalfe
We want to send a special thank you to the people who helped ensure he received great medical care in his final years: Kathy Mize and everyone at Madrone Care, Dr. Fratkin, Dr. Eva Smith, Tasha Bradberry, Melissa Kane, Dr. Basseri, Dr. Krawl and Michael Masten and the pharmacy team.
We are sorry if we missed anyone - Mark had many more friends and loved ones and he loved you all.
In lieu of flowers, his family asks that you donate to Two Rivers Pet and Wildlife Welfare Services as Mark loved dogs and was always telling his wife and daughter to bring home any stray dogs they encountered.
His services were held on Friday, April 18th, 2025 at the Hoopa Neighborhood Facilities.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Christina Perkins’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.